Operatic vocals soar above a dense wall of sound that somehow seems delicate in its delivery. Whether it’s intentional or not, the resonance is lost despite lead singer Laurie Hall’s beautiful yet haunting vocals with the largely student crowd typically unimpressed, and instead waiting of the headliner – the striking PJ Harvey.

There’s a surprising amount of colour worn by the revellers tonight, and not the swarm of black androgynous figures I’d been expecting to see. I feel I have to mention the brave/stupid/shameless 40-year-old fella dressed in bright red baggy cargo pants, complete with muscle top and beanie hat. It’s not Halloween already, is it?

Waiting for a cold drink to combat the jungle-like conditions, I hear PJ and band kick into ‘Who The Fuck’ from recent album Uh Huh. You can almost hear the venom in her voice as she spits out the lyrics. Occasionally she grabs the mic stand in a way that makes half the men in the audience wince and the other half, close their eyes and smile with delight.

Miss Harvey is a mass on contradictions.  While singing, she appears supremely confident, sultry, sassy, even managing to flirt with the entire crowd, through little winks and suggestive hip movements. In-between songs she’s demure, only thanking the audience for their thunderous appreciation.

Running through a number of crowd pleasers, including ‘Good Fortune’, ‘Down By The Water’ and ‘Big Exit’, Harvey takes centre stage, for a solo rendition of ‘Rid Of Me’, which despite lacking volume, brings a rapturous applause. What follows is an intimate moment of two encores, during which she plays recent single ‘You Come Through’ much to the satisfaction of the crowd.

After tonight’s performance, it’s evident PJ Harvey's song writing and musical aptitude are undeniable. Expressive, emotional and rock steady, so why isn't everyone else listening to her?
(4½/5)

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Photo: Ryan Lee